GA and the Haiti crisis

The general aviation community has a long history of providing flights and other support to help people and communities in the aftermath of natural disasters. Following this week’s earthquake in Haiti, the National Business Aviation Association has heard from many aircraft owners and pilots wanting to volunteer aircraft, supplies and personnel to support earthquake relief efforts, according to Ed Bolen, the organization’s president and CEO.

In response, NBAA has set up a page on its website that will be continually updated to provide the latest operational information and help match available assets with people and organizations involved in coordinating missions into Haiti.

The site also provides for online registry of NBAA member aircraft and other assets available to assist in relief efforts. NBAA is sharing the information entered into the registry with the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS’s) Critical Incident Management Group, which is managing the government’s response to the crisis and has requested information on available assets from the business aviation community.

General aviation aircraft may be needed to transport supplies and personnel to staging areas within the U.S., in addition to direct flights to and from Haiti, Bolen said. Operators who are unable or unwilling to fly to and from Haiti can still make significant contributions to relief efforts by facilitating such flights within the U.S.

As this tragic situation unfolds, there will be a number of ways to assist those in need, Bolen said. “Many organizations providing direct relief are very much in need of volunteer time and simple cash contributions to help fund their relief efforts, and I encourage you to consider those groups in your assistance planning,” he said.